Air hose support clip to prevent lateral loading

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for suspending a device such as the end of a depending air brake hose from a railcar. A flexible strap of a synthetic resin such as moldable polyurethane is suspended from the railcar body, for example, by attachment to an apertured fitting on the railcar coupler. Elongated resilient wire clips are provided to attach the free end of the air hose. The wire clips are generally configured with a latching end including interlocking end portions for connection to the strap through a selected attachment aperture, a pair of flexibly resilient, elongated manually compressible elongated arms extending away from the latching end portions and a return portion joining the arms. The clip is further provided with a retainer operative when the arms are interlocked for maintaining the attachment aperture fitting within the confines of the return portion and out of position in which loading of the clip is exerted laterally of the clip arms.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/787,114, filed Mar. 29, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to air hose suspension systems for rail cars andthe like and especially a simplified, reliable clip and readilyadjustable strap assembly for maintaining a flexible device such as theend of a rail car hose at a desired height above the rail structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Failure to maintain rail car hoses at a proper height above the railstructure is a significant cause of unintended air hose couplingseparation leading to emergency braking and stopping of the train andsometimes even derailment. Obviously, emergency braking is a cause oftime-consuming and costly train delays as a result of the need for acrew member to walk the length of the train looking for the cause. Whenan uncoupled air hose is discovered, the crew member must reconnect thecoupling members or effect an emergency repair before returning to theengine.

To eliminate the problem, it is known to provide air hose strapsinterconnected between the coupler or other parts of the car and the endof the air hose. Known straps have a fastening system including wireclips which have a hooked end which fits through an aperture on afixture on the air hose. The wire is then looped back through a selectedaperture on the strap and then captured by the hooked end.

The looped portion of one of the prior art clips extends through anaperture in a bracket typically provided on the bottom of each rail carcoupler. A second clip is provided which is preferably identical to thefirst. The looped portion of the second clip fits through an apertureintegral with the glad hand fitting on the end of the air hose. If thestraps have not been properly installed or should the strap materialelongate over time, readjustment becomes necessary to avoid the riskthat the air hose will strike a cross tie, a grade crossing, a switch orother track structure causing air hose separation.

While air hose support straps made of chain, steel cable or webbing canbe used, the presently preferred approach is to use an elastomeric strapmaterial capable of providing some give in operation. Polyurethane is apresently preferred strap material. Elongated spring clips as fastenermembers are provided for attachment of one of the ends of the strap tothe railcar body and the opposite end to an apertured fitting at the endof the air hose.

Although these assemblies are effective in supporting the end of the airhose, a problem arises which leads to damage and ultimately to failureof the clips in service. This problem was investigated following fieldservice reports of air hose support straps that had failed because of“bent or missing clips”.

The investigation revealed that over 95% of clip damage occurred to theclip connecting the bottom of the support strap to the air hose gladhand fitting. From analysis of a number of clips produced by differentmanufacturers, it was observed that the damage was a result of the clipbeing strained on the long sides of the clip (lateral loading) insteadof along the long axis of the clip (longitudinal loading). The clips aremuch stronger when the load is applied on the clip ends rather than onits long sides.

The invention is based on a recognition of the cause of this lateralloading and to the means provided for eliminating it. Lateral loadingoccurs when the railroad car coupler is in the buff position as occurswhen it is not under load. In this condition, the air hose support isslack, which allows a clip of prior art design to slide along its lengththrough the glad hand aperture. When the coupler returns to the neutralor draft position, the load is applied to the side of the clip where itis weakest rather than its ends, bending the clip into an oblong orovoid shape. Eventually, this causes the clip's locking integrity to belost. It was observed that this type of lateral loading accounts for themajority of clip damage failures.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a solution to the problem of air hosesupport clips being damaged through the action of the coupler system.

In a clip according to the invention, the end used for connection to thelower, glad hand end of the air hose includes a retainer to prevent theclip sliding through the glad hand connector aperture, thereby avoidingthe risk of damage through lateral loading. The retainer preferablycomprises bent portions of the clip arms which are relatively positionedto prevent movement of the clip through the aperture when the clip armsare latched. Optionally, the retainer may take form of one or morehelical loops in which the attachment aperture is interfitted, orprovision of a retainer attachment which attaches to the clip arms andretains the attachment aperture within the loop interconnecting the cliparms as further explained and illustrated in the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of a railcar including acoupler and train line structure illustrating the use of a support strapassembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a clip forming a preferred embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the clip of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the modified form of the clip of FIGS. 2and 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating anotherembodiment of the clip of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of theclip of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates in perspective a further embodiment of the clip ofthe present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an alternative version of the clipof the invention; and

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of still other embodiments of theclip of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an air brake hose conventionally constructedof rubber or other flexible material having similar properties isillustrated at 10. The air hose is connected to a train line 11 runninglengthwise of the rail vehicle 11 a. A trolley 12 supports the trainline by means of shackles 13. The trolley 12 has a hooked end portion 14which suspends it from a hanger on the face 15 of the coupler pocket.The opposite end of air hose 10 is fitted with a glad hand connector 16interfittable with a similarly shaped fitting at the end of the air hoseon the next rail vehicle in the train.

In order to maintain the end of the air hose a suitable distance abovethe track structure, a suspension strap 18 is attached to a fitting 19on the top surface of the glad hand having an aperture 19 a and anapertured fitting 22 conventionally provided on coupler 23. The strap 18is preferably flexible and resilient and typically formed by molding ofa polymeric material such as polyurethane. It is provided with apertures24 spaced at regular intervals along its length. Attachment to therespective fitting 19 and 22 is by means of clips 20, 21 passed throughselected apertures 24. The preferred form of clip 20 is disclosed inmore detail in FIGS. 2-10. Clip 21 may be the same as clip 20 or ofsimilar but simplified construction as explained below.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2-10, clips 20 of the invention are formed ofresiliently bendable wire. In the form of FIGS. 2 and 3, the clipcomprises a pair of elongated clip arms 26 and 28 joined together by alooping return portion 30 at one end. Return portion 30 preferablyextends through an angle greater than 180° and joins the arm at 38 wherethere is contact with clip arm 26 when the clip is in the closedposition of FIGS. 2 and 3. At its opposite end, clip arm 26 terminatesin portion 32 bent at 90° with respect to the arm. The end of portion 32is then bent about 180° to form a hooked-shaped portion 34 which isadapted to fit over the end of clip arm 28 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and3. The end portion of arm 28 is preferably first bent laterally at anangle of about 90° with respect to the axis of arm 28 and thenpreferably bent back upon itself through 180° as illustrated at 36 so asto capture hook portion 34 and prevent its inadvertent uncoupling underthe influence of tensile forces applied to arms either laterally oraxially of the clip long axis.

In the open position, the loop formed by end portion 30 is substantiallyopen when the free end of arm 28 is uncaptured from hook 34. In thisposition, the arm 26 or the arm 28 can readily be passed through theapertured opening of the glad hand fitting 19 and the glad hand fittingadvanced lengthwise of either arm until it is within the loop 30. Withthe apertured glad hand fitting so positioned, the end 32 of clip arm 26is then passed through a selected aperture in strap 18. The ends of thehook are then closed together so that the hook 34 captures the arm 28.In this position, the loop portion 30 including the portion shown at 38in FIG. 2 which bears against the arm 26 capturing the glad hand fittingin place between the two arms.

The clip configuration just described eliminates the tendency of clipslike those of the prior art to shift relative to the apertured fittingof the glad hand 16 along one or the other of the arms 26 or 28 when thecoupler is in the buff condition when the coupler is not under load andis retracted within the coupler pocket. As indicated above, if the priorart clip shifts under slack coupler conditions, and the coupler is thenplaced under load, a lateral force applied between the apertured fittingand a clip arm will cause the arm to bend and ultimately to fail byexceeding the elastic limit of the wire, allowing the glad hand to dropdown and possibly uncouple if it strikes track structure. In contrast,with clips made according to the invention, the apertured fitting iscaptured within the loop formed by end portion 30 unless and until theclip is deliberately opened. Clip failure caused by coupler movementbetween the slack and load conditions is avoided inasmuch as the forcesacting on the clip are always exerted axially of the clip rather thanlaterally of it.

Clip 21 is provided for attachment of the upper end of strap 18 to theapertured fitting 22 of coupler 23 as shown in FIG. 1. The clip 21 maybe similar to clip 20 having a pair of arms 26′ and 28′ joined by areturn portion 30′ bent through about 180°. As is the case with clip 20,clip arm 26′ has a hook-shaped end portion 32′ which fits through aselected aperture 24 on strap 18 and projects so as to hook over the endof arm 28′. As seen in FIG. 1, the arm 28′ of clip 21 need not beprovided with the retainer loop portion 30 of clip 20, as it has beendetermined that there is no condition of operation where clip 21 willshift to a position in which its arms will be subjected to transverseloading.

FIGS. 4-10 illustrate alternative versions of a clip assembly used as apart of a support strap assembly for connection of the support strap tothe air hose glad hand according to the present invention. In theseFigures and the description which follows, like numbers to those used inFIGS. 2 and 3 are used to identify the same or similar parts. In FIG. 4,clip arm 28 has a relatively straight section 28 a which is biased tobear against arm 26 when the clip is closed. In FIG. 5 (similarly toFIG. 2), the contact between the two arms 26 and 28 is essentially apoint contact. The return loop 30 captures the apertured fitting as inFIG. 2. FIG. 6 illustrates a form of clip in which the looped portionextends as a spiral between the arms 26 and 28. In FIG. 6, the loop 30is comprised of two turns. In FIG. 7, the loop 30 is bent so that arm 28crosses over arm 26 at two points 40 and 42. The cross-overconfiguration illustrated in this figure is provided to afford furthercertainty that the apertured fitting will remain within the loop 30. InFIG. 8, the loop 30 extends transversely of the plane of the arms 26 and28 as a means of assuring that the apertured fitting will remaincentered within the looped portion 30. In FIG. 9, the arm 28 includestwo bends 28 a and 28 b extending substantially towards arm 26. FIG. 10discloses an arrangement in which the loop 30 is provided with an insert44 which is formed with a groove within which the apertured fittingfits. The insert provides a loop 30 a of restricted size and arestricted throat 30 b. The apertured fitting is preferably formed of ayieldable thermoplastic material which yields to permit passage of theapertured fitting into the inner loop 30 a. The groove which receivesthe looped portion 30 is preferably flanged, the flange serving as aretainer for locking the insert to the clip.

In all embodiments described above, the clip, when open, can beconveniently threaded through the aperture of the glad hand fitting andthe fitting centered within the return loop. The latching end of arm 26is then passed through a selected aperture in strap 18, and the two endsof the arms of the clip are laterally together. The apertured fitting isthereupon maintained within the return loop and the problem of lateralloading on the clip arms is avoided.

1. A suspension system for maintaining an air brake hose of a vehicle ata predetermined height above a supporting road bed structure, thesuspension system comprising a suspension strap having a first endportion and a second end portion, the first end portion being affixableto the vehicle, the suspension strap having an attachment portionlocated at the second end portion of the suspension strap, and a firstreleasable clip for connecting the suspension strap to an attachmentfitting of the air brake hose, the first releasable clip having a firstend and a latching end, a pair of flexibly resilient elongated armsextending away from the latching end of the first releasable clip to thefirst end of the clip, the arms being joined by a return portion at thefirst end of the first releasable clip, the pair of arms comprising afirst arm and a second arm, the first arm at the latching end of thefirst releasable clip having a latching member for interlockingengagement with the second arm when desired, the latching member havingan interlocking end portion for engaging the second arm, the latchingend of the clip being operative when the latching member is latched tothe second arm for engaging along the latching member a portion of thesuspension strap used to suspend the air brake hose of the vehicle abovethe road bed structure and for maintaining the portion of the suspensionstrap between the first arm and the second arm, and a retainer locatedon the first releasable clip somewhere between the return portion at thefirst end of the first releasable clip and the latching member at thelatching end of the first releasable clip, the retainer creating aconfinement area between itself and the return portion of the firstreleasable clip when the latching member is latched to the second arm,the retainer being operative when the latching member is latched to thesecond arm for maintaining a portion of the attachment fitting of theair brake hose within the confinement area and out of position in whichloading of the clip by the air brake hose is exerted laterally of thearms of the first releasable clip, the retainer comprising portions ofthe first and second arms resiliently touching one another between thereturn portion at the first end of the first releasable clip and thelatching member at the latching end of the first releasable clip.
 2. Thesuspension system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a railcar and thesupporting road bed structure includes a rail structure supporting therailcar.
 3. The suspension system of 1, wherein the suspension strap hasa plurality of attachment apertures spaced lengthwise thereof, the firstreleasable clip being selectively insertable within one of saidattachment apertures.
 4. The suspension system of claim 1, the firstreleasable clip having a second end, the first arm of the firstreleasable clip and the second arm of the first releasable clip havingend portions located approximately at the second end of the firstreleasable clip, the latching end of the first releasable clip being atthe second end of the first releasable clip.
 5. The suspension system ofclaim 4, the retainer being operative when the latching member is notlatched to the second arm for permitting a portion of the attachmentfitting of the air brake hose to be positioned between the retainer andthe return.
 6. A suspension system for maintaining an air brake hose ofa vehicle at a predetermined height above a supporting road bedstructure, the suspension system comprising a suspension strap having afirst end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion beingaffixable to the vehicle, the suspension strap having an attachmentportion located at the second end portion of the suspension strap, and afirst releasable clip for connecting the suspension strap to anattachment fitting of the air brake hose, the first releasable cliphaving a first end and a latching end, a pair of flexibly resilientelongated arms extending away from the latching end of the firstreleasable clip to the first end of the clip, the arms being joined by areturn portion at the first end of the first releasable clip, the pairof arms comprising a first arm and a second arm, the first arm at thelatching end of the first releasable clip having a latching member forinterlocking engagement with the second arm when desired, the latchingmember having an interlocking end portion for engaging the second arm,the latching end of the clip being operative when the latching member islatched to the second arm for engaging along the latching member aportion of the suspension strap used to suspend the air brake hose ofthe vehicle above the road bed structure and for maintaining the portionof the suspension strap between the first arm and the second arm, and aretainer located on the first releasable clip somewhere between thereturn portion at the first end of the first releasable clip and thelatching member at the latching end of the first releasable clip, theretainer creating a confinement area between itself and the returnportion of the first releasable clip when the latching member is latchedto the second arm, the retainer being operative when the latching memberis latched to the second arm for maintaining a portion of the attachmentfitting of the air brake hose within the confinement area and out ofposition in which loading of the clip the air brake hose is exertedlaterally of the arms of the first releasable clip, the retainercomprising parallel portions of the first and second arms resilientlytouching one another when the latching member is latched to the secondarm.
 7. The suspension system of claim 6, wherein the vehicle is arailcar and the supporting road bed structure includes a rail structuresupporting the railcar.
 8. The suspension system of 6, wherein thesuspension strap has a plurality of attachment apertures spacedlengthwise thereof, the first releasable clip being selectivelyinsertable within one of said attachment apertures.
 9. The suspensionsystem of claim 6, the first releasable clip having a second end, thefirst arm of the first releasable clip and the second arm of the firstreleasable clip having end portions located approximately at the secondend of the first releasable clip, the latching end of the firstreleasable clip being at the second end of the first releasable clip.10. The suspension system of claim 9, the retainer being operative whenthe latching member is not latched to the second arm for permitting aportion of the attachment fitting of the air brake hose to be positionedbetween the retainer and the return.
 11. A clip for interconnection withan attachment portion of a suspension strap used to suspend an air brakehose of a vehicle above a road bed structure, the clip having a firstend and a latching end, a pair of flexibly resilient elongated armsextending away from the latching end of the clip to the first end of theclip, the arms being joined by a return portion at the first end of theclip, the pair of arms comprising a first arm and a second arm, thefirst arm at the latching end of the clip having a latching member forinterlocking engagement with the second arm when desired, the latchingmember having an interlocking end portion for engaging the second arm,the latching end of the clip being operative when the latching member islatched to the second arm for engaging along the latching member aportion of the suspension strap used to suspend the air brake hose ofthe vehicle above the road bed structure and for maintaining the portionof the suspension strap between the first arm and the second arm, and aretainer located on the clip somewhere between the return portion at thefirst end of the clip and the latching member at the latching end of theclip, the retainer creating a confinement area between itself and thereturn portion of the clip when the latching member is latched to thesecond arm, the retainer being operative when the latching member islatched to the second arm for maintaining a portion of an attachmentfitting of the air brake hose within the confinement area and out ofposition in which loading of the clip by the air brake hose is exertedlaterally of the arms of the clip, the retainer comprising portions ofthe first and second arms resiliently touching one another between thereturn portion at the first end of the first releasable clip and thelatching member at the latching end of the first releasable clip. 12.The clip of claim 11, the clip having a second end, the first arm of theclip and the second arm of the clip having end portions locatedapproximately at the second end of the clip, the latching end of theclip being at the second end of the clip.
 13. The clip of claim 12, theretainer being operative when the latching member is not latched to thesecond arm for permitting a portion of the attachment fitting of the airbrake hose to be positioned between the retainer and the return.
 14. Aclip for interconnection with an attachment portion of a suspensionstrap used to suspend an air brake hose of a vehicle above a road bedstructure, the clip having a first end and a latching end, a pair offlexibly resilient elongated arms extending away from the latching endof the clip to the first end of the clip, the arms being joined by areturn portion at the first end of the clip, the pair of arms comprisinga first arm and a second arm, the first arm at the latching end of theclip having a latching member for interlocking engagement with thesecond arm when desired, the latching member having an interlocking endportion for engaging the second arm, the latching end of the clip beingoperative when the latching member is latched to the second arm forengaging along the latching member a portion of the suspension strapused to suspend the air brake hose of the vehicle above the road bedstructure and for maintaining the portion of the suspension strapbetween the first arm and the second arm, and a retainer located on theclip somewhere between the return portion at the first end of the clipand the latching member at the latching end of the clip, the retainercreating a confinement area between itself and the return portion of theclip when the latching member is latched to the second arm, the retainerbeing operative when the latching member is latched to the second armfor maintaining a portion of an attachment fitting of the air brake hosewithin the confinement area and out of position in which loading of theclip by the air brake hose is exerted laterally of the arms of the clip,the retainer comprising parallel portions of the first and second armsresiliently touching one another when the latching member is latched tothe second arm.
 15. The clip of claim 14, the clip having a second end,the first arm of the clip and the second arm of the clip having endportions located approximately at the second end of the clip, thelatching end of the clip being at the second end of the clip.
 16. Theclip of claim 15, the retainer being operative when the latching memberis not latched to the second arm for permitting a portion of theattachment fitting of the air brake hose to be positioned between theretainer and the return.
 17. An assembly for maintaining an air brakehose of a vehicle at a predetermined height above a supporting road bedstructure, the assembly comprising a suspension strap having a first endportion and a second end portion, the first end portion being affixed tothe vehicle, the suspension strap having an attachment portion locatedat the second end portion of the suspension strap, an attachment fittingon the air brake hose, and a first releasable clip connecting thesuspension strap to the attachment fitting of an air brake hose, thefirst releasable clip having a first end and a latching end, a pair offlexibly resilient elongated arms extending away from the latching endof the first releasable clip to the first end of the clip, the armsbeing joined by a return portion at the first end of the firstreleasable clip, the pair of arms comprising a first arm and a secondarm, the first arm at the latching end of the first releasable cliphaving a latching member for interlocking engagement with the second armwhen desired, the latching member having an interlocking end portion forengaging the second arm, the latching end of the clip being operativewhen the latching member is latched to the second arm for engaging alongthe latching member a portion of the suspension strap used to suspendthe air brake hose of the vehicle above the road bed structure and formaintaining the portion of the suspension strap between the first armand the second arm, and a retainer located on the first releasable clipsomewhere between the return portion at the first end of the firstreleasable clip and the latching member at the latching end of the firstreleasable clip, the retainer creating a confinement area between itselfand the return portion of the first releasable clip when the latchingmember is latched to the second arm, the retainer being operative whenthe latching member is latched to the second arm for maintaining aportion of the attachment fitting of the air brake hose within theconfinement area and out of position in which loading of the clip by theair brake hose is exerted laterally of the arms of the first releasableclip, the retainer comprising portions of the first and second armsresiliently touching one another between the return portion at the firstend of the first releasable clip and the latching member at the latchingend of the first releasable clip.
 18. The assembly of claim 17, whereinthe suspension strap has a plurality of attachment apertures spacedlengthwise thereof, the clip being selectively inserted within one ofsaid attachment apertures.
 19. The assembly of claim 17, the suspensionstrap having an attachment portion located at the first end portion ofthe suspension strap, the assembly further including an attachmentfitting on the vehicle, and the assembly further including a secondreleasable clip connecting the first end portion of the suspension strapto the vehicle, the second releasable clip having a first end and alatching end, a pair of flexibly resilient elongated arms extending awayfrom the latching end of the second releasable clip to the first end ofthe second releasable clip, the arms of the second releasable clip beingjoined by a return portion at the first end of the second releasableclip, the pair of arms of the second releasable clip comprising a firstarm and a second arm, the first arm of the second releasable clip at thelatching end of the second releasable clip having a latching member forinterlocking engagement with the second arm of the second releasableclip when desired, the latching member of the first arm of the secondreleasable clip having an interlocking end portion for engaging thesecond arm of the second releasable clip, the latching end of the secondreleasable clip being operative when the latching member of the secondreleasable clip is latched to the second arm of the second releasableclip for engaging a portion of the suspension strap along the latchingmember of the second releasable clip and for maintaining the portion ofthe suspension strap between the first arm of the second releasable clipand the second arm of the second releasable clip, and a retainer locatedon the second releasable clip somewhere between the return portion ofthe first end of the second releasable clip and the latching member atthe latching end of the second releasable clip, the retainer creating aconfinement area between itself and the return portion of the secondreliable clip when the latching member of the first arm of the secondreleasable clip is latched to the second arm of the second releasableclip, the retainer of the second releasable clip being operative whenthe latching member of the first arm of the second releasable clip islatched to the second arm of the second releasable clip for maintaininga portion of the attachment fitting located on the vehicle within theconfinement area created by the retainer of the second releasable clipand out of position in which loading of the second releasable clip bythe air brake hose is exerted laterally of the arms of the secondreleasable clip.
 20. The assembly of claim 17, the first releasable cliphaving a second end, the first arm of the first releasable clip and thesecond arm of the first releasable clip having end portions locatedapproximately at the second end of the first releasable clip, thelatching end of the first releasable clip being at the second end of thefirst releasable clip.
 21. The assembly of claim 20, the retainer beingoperative when the latching member is not latched to the second arm forpermitting a portion of the attachment fitting of the air brake hose tobe positioned between the retainer and the return.
 22. An assembly formaintaining an air brake hose of a vehicle at a predetermined heightabove a supporting road bed structure, the assembly comprising asuspension strap having a first end portion and a second end portion,the first end portion being affixed to the vehicle, the suspension straphaving an attachment portion located at the second end portion of thesuspension strap, an attachment fitting on the air brake hose, and afirst releasable clip connecting the suspension strap to the attachmentfitting of an air brake hose, the first releasable clip having a firstend and a latching end, a pair of flexibly resilient elongated armsextending away from the latching end of the first releasable clip to thefirst end of the clip, the arms being joined by a return portion at thefirst end of the first releasable clip, the pair of arms comprising afirst arm and a second arm, the first arm at the latching end of thefirst releasable clip having a latching member for interlockingengagement with the second arm when desired, the latching member havingan interlocking end portion for engaging the second arm, the latchingend of the clip being operative when the latching member is latched tothe second arm for engaging along the latching member a portion of thesuspension strap used to suspend the air brake hose of the vehicle abovethe road bed structure and for maintaining the portion of the suspensionstrap between the first arm and the second arm, and a retainer locatedon the first releasable clip somewhere between the return portion at thefirst end of the first releasable clip and the latching member at thelatching end of the first releasable clip, the retainer creating aconfinement area between itself and the return portion of the firstreleasable clip when the latching member is latched to the second arm,the retainer being operative when the latching member is latched to thesecond arm for maintaining a portion of the attachment fitting of theair brake hose within the confinement area and out of position in whichloading of the clip by the air brake hose is exerted laterally of thearms of the first releasable clip, the retainer comprising parallelportions of the first and second arms resiliently touching one anotherwhen the latching member is latched to the second arm.
 23. The assemblyof claim 22, wherein the suspension strap has a plurality of attachmentapertures spaced lengthwise thereof, the clip being selectively insertedwithin one of said attachment apertures.
 24. The assembly of claim 22,the suspension strap having an attachment portion located at the firstend portion of the suspension strap, the assembly further including anattachment fitting on the vehicle, and the assembly further including asecond releasable clip connecting the first end portion of thesuspension strap to the vehicle, the second releasable clip having afirst end and a latching end, a pair of flexibly resilient elongatedarms extending away from the latching end of the second releasable clipto the first end of the second releasable clip, the arms of the secondreleasable clip being joined by a return portion at the first end of thesecond releasable clip, the pair of arms of the second releasable clipcomprising a first arm and a second arm, the first arm of the secondreleasable clip at the latching end of the second releasable clip havinga latching member for interlocking engagement with the second arm of thesecond releasable clip when desired, the latching member of the firstarm of the second releasable clip having an interlocking end portion forengaging the second arm of the second releasable clip, the latching endof the second releasable clip being operative when the latching memberof the second releasable clip is latched to the second arm of the secondreleasable clip for engaging a portion of the suspension strap along thelatching member of the second releasable clip and for maintaining theportion of the suspension strap between the first arm of the secondreleasable clip and the second arm of the second releasable clip, and aretainer located on the second releasable clip somewhere between thereturn portion of the first end of the second releasable clip and thelatching member at the latching end of the second releasable clip, theretainer creating a confinement area between itself and the returnportion of the second reliable clip when the latching member of thefirst arm of the second releasable clip is latched to the second arm ofthe second releasable clip, the retainer of the second releasable clipbeing operative when the latching member of the first arm of the secondreleasable clip is latched to the second arm of the second releasableclip for maintaining a portion of the attachment fitting located on thevehicle within the confinement area created by the retainer of thesecond releasable clip and out of position in which loading of thesecond releasable clip by the air brake hose is exerted laterally of thearms of the second releasable clip.
 25. The assembly of claim 22, thefirst releasable clip having a second end, the first arm of the firstreleasable clip and the second arm of the first releasable clip havingend portions located approximately at the second end of the firstreleasable clip, the latching end of the first releasable clip being atthe second end of the first releasable clip.
 26. The assembly of claim25, the retainer being operative when the latching member is not latchedto the second arm for permitting a portion of the attachment fitting ofthe air brake hose to be positioned between the retainer and the return.